In some regions of Earthland, twins were considered a curse.
In others, they were seen as a blessing.
Some believed twins shared the same soul; others claimed they shared the same fate. But regardless of beliefs, everybody agreed that the lives of twins for some reason always… mirrored one another—that their paths were destined to intertwine somehow, no matter how far they strayed.
Aurora Synaris was known across Ishgar as one of the strongest—and most beautiful—wizards of her time. As for King Arthur, few truly knew his origins, but one thing was certain: he was the only man who could stand beside Aurora without ever feeling inferior, whether in strength or looks. Because of that, there was never any doubt that their children would be extraordinary as well.
However, what no one realized… was just how much they were still underestimating their destiny.
The Synaris Twins would not merely shake a kingdom, or even a continent. Their existence would alter the course of Earthland itself. The echoes of their actions would shape human civilization for centuries, their story passed down like a fairy tale—one told by parents to children long after the truth had blurred into legend.
But every story had to begin somewhere… And for them…
Year X764
"You know… I'm kind of worried," Aurora said softly. "It's been a few months since they were born, but they're far too quiet. They rarely make any noise."
She stood beside the crib, her gaze gentle and unfocused, as if time itself had slowed around her. The two babies stared back at her with wide, unblinking eyes as well.
"Your Majesty," a woman with black hair said from beside the door. "You've been standing there for nearly two hours. You still have work to attend to."
"Come on, Agnes," Aurora replied, pouting slightly. "Are you really telling me to ignore my babies and go work? How heartless can you be? Look at how cute they are. Do you truly have the heart to separate them from their lovely mother?"
Without waiting for an answer, Aurora lifted both babies from the crib and gathered them into her arms, pressing their small faces gently against her cheeks. Her expression softened even further, a rare warmth spreading across her face.
"You two also don't want to be separated from me, right? Astro? Siegrain?" She asked, giggling. Both children also started laughing, feeling her gentle touch.
"Yes," Agnes said flatly. "Go do your work. Otherwise, they'll learn from you and grow up into irresponsible adults just like you."
"Hey—that's not nice," Aurora protested. "Do you know who you're talking to, Agnes?"
She was the queen of this kingdom. Why couldn't she enjoy a little time with her adorable sons? How unfair.
"If that's how you feel," Agnes continued calmly…still with a cool face… resting a hand against her cheek, "then I suppose I have nothing left to do here. I'll retire and go to some faraway kingdom with my…."
"Okay, okay! I'm going," Aurora said quickly, surrendering at once.
Agnes knew her value all too well. Even though Aurora was certain she was joking, she still decided not to push her luck. With a reluctant sigh, she returned the babies to their crib.
Aurora took a few steps toward the door, then slowed. Her expression darkened briefly, brows knitting together in quiet concern. Suddenly, she turned back, her face brightening as if the worry had never existed. She leaned down and kissed both boys gently on the head before waving at them.
"Astro, Siegrain," she said cheerfully, "you're allowed to be a little naughty with Aunt Agnes. I permit it. Get some revenge for your mom."
She flashed them a thumbs-up, grinning as if she had just approved a grand scheme, then hurried out of the room before Agnes could respond.
Agnes could only stare speechlessly at her retreating figure. After a moment, she turned back to the crib. The twins started watching her intently, their large eyes following her every movement.
"…They're definitely quieter than Cedric was at this age," Agnes murmured, recalling how much trouble her own son had caused her as a baby.
She leaned closer, her expression softening despite still having a cold face.
"Now then… let's see. What toys should we play with? How about this one?"
Whether the twins understood her words or not was unclear—but the moment she put a noise-making toy in front of them, both babies broke into soft giggles, already forgetting their mother's instructions.
Year x767
"Dad… we've decided," Siegran said, pointing dramatically at his father.
"We're going to defeat you."
"And we're going to take Mom away from you," Astro added proudly.
Arthur looked down at the twins, who barely reached his thigh, and felt his mouth twitch. He motioned for the knights on the training grounds to continue before easily lifting both boys into his arms.
"You boys really think you can…"
"Dad… you stink… let us down."
"Let us down, you stink."
"..."
Arthur became speechless. Why don't they mind hugging their mother after she is done with training… They have way too many double standards for three-year-old kids...
"But you two are way too lazy. You never trained at all," Arthur said calmly as he put them down. "All you ever do is follow behind your mother."
Both boys froze, mouths hanging open.
"We have to train to defeat you?" Siegrain asked.
"We have to train to defeat him?" Astro asked too.
"Seems like it." Siegran looked troubled for a moment.
"You can have Mom then… Make her happy…. Bye," Astro said immediately and ran away, waving his hand.
"…Bye, dad.."
Siegrain thought for a moment, then also waved his hand and chased after his younger brother.
"..."
Arthur stood there in silence. He hadn't even planned to train them seriously—just a few light exercises suitable for children, from a book he'd read. Ok, it was maybe for ten-year-old kids…but still… they didn't have to run so fast.
Behind him, muffled laughter echoed across the training ground. The trainee knights were doing their best to hold it in, but a few failed miserably.
"You all seem to be enjoying this," Arthur said, teeth clenched. He can't win against his sons, but now even the trainees dare to laugh at him… no he had to teach the trainees a lesson today…
"No, sir!" The knights snapped straight.
"Twenty laps across the field."
"But—"
"One hundred laps."
"Yes, sir!"
Astro and Siegrain dashed through the castle like cats with too much adrenaline … although they were already the freest creatures in the royal castle.
"Hey, Siegrain! Let's see who reaches Mom's office first!" Astro shouted, glancing back.
"That's not fair—you had a head start!" Siegrain complained. But when Astro slowed down to look behind him, Siegrain surged forward and passed him.
"Hey! You cheater!" Astro yelled, speeding up.
"You slowpoke!"
They raced past guards, maids, and staff members. Each time, the people in the castle slowed just enough to bow slightly. Though King Arthur and Queen Aurora rarely enforced strict formality, the staff still did it out of gratitude—especially toward Aurora, who had saved the kingdom from her tyrant father.
"Your Highness."
"Hi, Rakia!"
"Please be careful on the stairs, Your Highness."
"We will. Thanks, Jack!"
"Astro, Siegrain."
The voice came from behind them. They stopped instantly and turned around as their eyes lit up.
"Aunt! You're back!"
The two heartless boys completely forgot about their mother and ran back, hugging her legs tightly.
"Aunt, did you miss me?"
"Did you miss me?"
Celestia gently patted their heads.
"Yes..yes.. I have missed you two naughty kids, of course… but if you run that fast, won't Agnes scold you?" she asked.
"Hehe…It's okay," Astro said. "Cedric said Aunt Agnes is…um…what is she doing again?"
He paused and looked at Siegrain.
"You idiot," Siegrain said flatly. "Cedric said that she is pregnant. Did you forget?"
"Oh!" Astro gasped, looking excited. "So yeah… angels are going to give her a baby. Like how we were born."
"Yes, exactly," Siegrain nodded confidently.
"That's… not really how babies are born," Celestia said, forcing a helpless smile.
"What? But that's what Mom told us," Siegrain said in a confused voice.
"Yeah," Astro nodded, pausing for a bit…
"Did Mom lie to us?" Astro asked softly.
"Mom would never lie," Siegrain said, frowning. "Maybe she doesn't know either."
"Well, about that—" Celestia started, but Astro interrupted.
"Aunt, then how are babies made?"
"And if Mom lied, that means she doesn't know either… but then…" Siegrain added, voice trembling, "Does that mean we're not really her babies?"
Celestia froze. She panicked, staring at their tearful faces.
For a moment, she nearly unleashed all the sacred adult knowledge she knew—but then… reality hit. She was still painfully single. She'd never even done the deed. Who was she to explain this sacred knowledge?
Tears welled up in her eyes, too.
Just then, Aurora stepped out of her office and paused at the sight of three figures hugging and crying together.
"…Why are all of you crying?" she asked, tilting her head. "Did someone die?"
"We're not Mom's babies! Waa!" Siegrain sobbed.
"We're just Dad's babies! Waa!" Astro cried.
"I'm not qualified to teach children those sacred things! Waaa!" Celestia wailed.
"…What?" Aurora blinked confusedly.
A moment later, she burst out laughing. She pulled Astro and Siegrain into her arms, showering them with kisses. As always, it worked immediately—the twins giggled and snuggled against her and stopped crying immediately.
"Really now," Aurora chuckled, "who else in the world could have sons as cute as you? Of course, you are born to me."
"But Aunt said—"
"Your aunt doesn't have any kids," Aurora said calmly. "Do you believe her more than me?"
The twins thought for a second.
"Yeah, makes sense," they said together. "She wouldn't know."
Behind them, Celestia took 100 critical emotional damage and collapsed to the floor.
"And what exactly were you doing, Celestia?" Aurora asked, kissing the boys' heads before looking at her sister.
"What do you mean… sis?" Celestia whistled, looking away. Though she was actually a year older, Aurora still called her by name now, while she still addressed Aurora as sis, as she used to when they were children.
"Don't try to teach my sons those things yet," Aurora sighed. "They're still young."
"I wasn't trying to teach them anything," Celestia said, still avoiding eye contact.
"Not that you could even if you tried," Aurora replied mercilessly.
Another 100 critical damage. Celestia collapsed again.
"So," Aurora said, changing the subject before Celestia truly withered away, "did you get to meet her this time?"
"Yes," Celestia murmured, getting up from the floor. "She gave birth to a cute girl. She and her husband, Jude… they really seem to love each other too."
She smiled faintly, though her voice was heavy. Everyone around her seemed to be getting married. Why couldn't she find anyone? Her sister was said to be the most beautiful woman in the kingdom—some said all of Ishgar. As her sister, shouldn't she have a huge line of suitors at least? Maybe… it was because… because her tyrant father spoiled her when she was a child, people don't feel comfortable getting close to her?
She absentmindedly rubbed her dark blue hair, thinking of those depressing times.
Aurora focused on keeping the twins from slipping out of her arms.
"Anything else?" Aurora asked to distract her, seeing that she was lost in thought.
"She gave up her keys to her servants, apparently," Celestia added quietly. "Her health has gotten worse. She is showing symptoms of magic deficiency disease, although it is not serious yet."
"The golden keys?" Aurora asked, surprised. "Aren't they rare? Are those servants trustworthy?"
"She said she trusted them, but… " Celestia said, touching her own keys gently. "But I feel really bad. I can't imagine how painful that decision must have been. She was the only celestial wizard I knew who loved her spirits as much as I do."
Half-asleep, Astro frowned a bit, hearing his aunt's sad voice. He peeked at the keys hanging from Celestia's waist—it seemed like there were… six golden ones, along with several silver.
That was the last thing he saw before drifting off, cradled in his mother's warm embrace, along with his brother.
Year x768
On a snow-laden night, an unknown visitor appeared silently within the chamber where the two princes slept. A black cloak swallowed her feminine form, revealing nothing but strands of silver hair spilling from beneath the hood.
She moved toward the bed with unhurried steps. Beneath the cloak, bright silver eyes shimmered as they shifted between the twins—before locking her gaze onto the black-haired boy.
"Who… are you?"
Siegrain stirred first, his eyes snapping open at the sense of being watched. Astro followed a heartbeat later, hugging Siegrain's arms.
"Don't worry, boy… it will be over—hm?" The figure suddenly paused
Cold steel pressed against her back.
"Move even a finger," a male voice said quietly from behind him… "and this spear will pierce your heart."
"Dad!" both twins cried at once.
Arthur stood behind the intruder, with sharp eyes… both twins trembled for a bit… because they had never seen their father having such a serious expression before.
"Arthur Verina," the cloaked figure said calmly, with a hint of amusement. "The phantom thief with the heart of gold that so many royal families were afraid of… now wears a crown. Fate does delight in irony. Doesn't it?"
Arthur's grip tightened. He didn't care how she knew his history, because there were far more important matters. "Speak. Who are you, and why are you in my sons' chamber?"
Before she could answer, emerald light flared around her body.
"Answer him," Aurora said from behind Arthur, one hand raised, her voice devoid of warmth. "Or I will crush you into millions of small parts and scatter what remains to the sea to feed you to fish."
"Aurora Synaris…" the figure murmured absentmindedly, not caring about her body getting pressed from every direction. "In the ages of humanity, there are only two queens I could respect. But it seems like, unlike the other one, you at least have a decent eye for men."
The twins clutched each other in fear. Aurora's eyes narrowed.
"Go."
As soon as he got the signal, Arthur made his spear rotate and let it go from his hand as he vanished in a purple flash and reappeared behind the children—lifting them both away in an instant before disappearing again, placing them safely behind Aurora's shield, before appearing beside Aurora and catching the spear, which was still rotating and with a wave of his hand aimed it again at the cloaked figure.
"You would threaten your savior so eagerly?" the cloaked figure said. Silver light flashed beneath her hood as she shattered Aurora's binding spell and dropped lightly into a crouch. "Though destiny bound me to preserve your life, it never promised mercy."
Aurora did not flinch. "Whatever debt you think exists means nothing. Knights of Sin kingdom will surround this room within moments. All five of Sin Kingdom's strongest stand here tonight. You will not leave alive."
As if on cue,
White light zigzagged through the window.
A white-haired young man materialized mid-strike, twin blades crossed at the intruder's throat—stopping an inch short.
From the lengthening shadow at his feet, a black-haired young woman emerged silently, a massive greatsword resting against the back of the cloaked figure's neck.
"Open, Gate of the Starry Heavens," a calm voice echoed in the room. "Libra"
"And… Open, Gate of the Starry Heavens… Taurus"
"Moo…I smell some beautiful ladies here."
A towering black-and-white minotaur burst forth, axe raised high just above the cloaked figure's head, its presence alone cracking the stone floor.
"Things don't seem perfectly balanced. Let me fix it."
A woman in an exotic dancer's outfit aimed the balancing scale in her hand at the cloaked figure…
The cloaked figure stilled, feeling the weight of her body grow far heavier than before, pressing down on her from above and leaving her completely unable to move, and not to mention she was also surrounded from every direction by others with weapons aiming at her.
Even so, she showed no fear at all.
"Julien," she said, regarding the man before her. "The Sun of Sin Kingdom."
Her gaze shifted back. "Agnes. The Moon, who walks through shadows and completes the sun."
"Some praise won't make us drop our weapons, you bastard."
"I know… your loyalty to the queen knows no bounds… but even you two are not enough."
Then, calmly, she turned toward the woman beside Aurora, who was protecting her nephews behind her. "And Celestia… who is considered the greatest celestial wizard of this era."
"What were you trying to do to them?" Celestia asked with a frown.
"I see your kingdom's strength was not spoken lightly," the figure continued. "To face such an assembly… I should feel honored. And yet—"
Astro, who was behind Celestia, suddenly gasped. He had an illusion as if… no…everything really…. Was frozen.
"Mom? Dad?" Astro murmured, not knowing what was happening.
Snow outside, people, breath—everything stood frozen.
Only Astro could move.
"The laws of this world were declared absolute by the gods," the figure said, her voice now echoing strangely. She lowered her hood as she walked to Astro, passing by everyone who was frozen in time.
Silver eyes. White hair. A face too perfect—too divine. If not for…two curved green horns on the side of her head.
"Why are you doing this…?" Astro asked, trembling as he shielded Siegrain with his body.
She stepped closer before stopping right in front of Astro. "To find you…who I have sought for ages.."
Her hand glowed purple. A crystalline diamond of warped magic shot forward, embedding itself into Astro's chest before he could understand what was happening.
"Agh—!"
Pain tore through him as a mark bloomed beneath his left eye.
Suddenly, the reality cracked.
The dome that the woman created to pause time shattered outward in a thunderous roar. Arthur and Aurora lunged forward—but froze as the devil lifted Astro effortlessly into the air.
"Astro!" Siegrain screamed.
"Let him go!" Aurora roared, her magic erupting violently, the palace trembling beneath her rage.
"The Synaris bloodline," the woman murmured, as if she didn't care about Aurora's outburst. "Unmatched mental resilience… and yet still was always insufficient. But not this time… any of the two children would have worked, but your fate, which has no light at the end of the road…. I choose you for this journey."
She turned her gaze to Aurora. "I searched for one who could bear the burden of a world cursed by gods. To find him so near my destined end… is this mockery, or mercy?"
She released him.
Aurora caught Astro instantly, her eyes locking onto the glowing imperium mark before pulling him close.
"It's okay… it's okay," she whispered urgently. "It will hurt, but it will pass. Stay with me."
"Don't worry… I am not yet your enemy," the woman's voice echoed as her form began to fade. "Nor your ally. I have given the key to your son. Whether he reshapes fate—or is consumed by it—will be his choice."
"Shut up!" Arthur lunged—
—but a purple magic circle appeared right under her feet, releasing an immense amount of pressure.
"I truly wished you had been the chosen one, Aurora," the horned woman said softly as her body started glowing brightly. "The weapon forged to defy the fate decreed by the gods. Had you been… my doom could have been avoided.
Her golden eyes lingered on Aurora, not with hatred, but with something closer to regret.
"But you were not," she continued. "And so that burden now rests upon your son. He will not grow swiftly enough to save me—such is the cruelty of time. Not even the Eternity Devil, such as myself, is safe from it."
A faint smile touched her lips as a magic circle began to rise beneath her feet.
"Still… our paths will cross again, at the end of your journey. In the afterlife."
The circle flared, light swallowing her form.
"Perhaps then," her voice echoed, fading, "I may even ask you… for a drink and you can thank me properly."
And then she was gone.
Year x769
In an open field outside the castle, four figures were doing their own thing beneath a clear sky.
"Remember, Astro," Arthur said calmly, his voice steady. "Footwork and confidence. Don't fight the spear—understand its flow. Let it move with you."
A year had passed since that night. Since then, the palace defenses had been reinforced several times over, layers of magic and manpower stacked upon one another. A massive bounty still hung over the horned woman's head, yet no trace of her had surfaced.
As for Astro, aside from awakening his Imperium eye earlier than expected, he appeared completely fine. He laughed, trained, and argued with his brother just like before. Hundreds of doctors and mages examined him, but none could find anything wrong, and Aurora and Arthur had finally allowed themselves to breathe again.
That incident, however, had changed the twins in subtle ways. Both had become more serious about training. Astro gravitated toward physical combat, weapons, and movement, while Siegrain preferred books, theories, and experimenting with different forms of magic.
Astro opened his eyes slowly. For a brief moment, both of them flashed purple. He rotated the spear—more of a shortened practice spear, sized for his small frame—gripping it at the center and letting it spin around his body.
'Remember the flow,' he reminded himself.
As the spear rotated beside him, he released it and followed through with a clean round kick. The spinning weapon flew forward and struck the nearby tree dead center, piercing the marked target with a sharp thud.
"You did it, Astro," Arthur said, a proud smile forming instantly.
"That was awesome, Dad!" Astro jumped up and slapped Arthur's raised hand, the two sharing a loud high five.
"He looks way too happy about that," Siegrain muttered, puffing his cheeks as he glanced up from the magic book in his hands.
"Well, it did take him a whole week to learn it," Aurora said lightly, watching the scene with a gentle smile.
Siegrain's shoulders drooped. "I'm supposed to be the older one… why is he getting stronger faster than me? He learns too fast."
Aurora leaned closer and gently rubbed his head. "Really? But your talent with magic is just as impressive, if not more. Didn't you already master all of the basic elemental magic?"
"Well… yeah," Siegrain admitted quietly, his ears getting a little red from the praise of his mother.
"Isn't that perfect, then?" Aurora continued thoughtfully. "You two can cover each other's weaknesses. Astro excels physically, and you shine with magic."
Siegrain hesitated before lowering his gaze. "But Astro can already use Imperium magic… and I can't."
Aurora pulled him into a soft hug, letting him sit on her lap. "Siegrain, do you know why I chose your name?"
He looked up, confused. "Hm? But Aunt Celestia said you wanted to name me Jellal."
Aurora laughed softly. "I did. He was the hero of a story I loved when I was young. But, even with a happy ending, his journey was filled with so much suffering. So when your aunt told me to rethink it, I chose Siegrain instead—a name that still means victory, but one reached through a happier path."
Siegrain blinked. "So… I'm supposed to beat Astro and be victorious?"
Aurora tapped his nose, amused. "Of course not. I want you to win together. No matter what hardships you face, I want you two to stand side by side and reach the end victorious."
His eyes widened in sudden realization. "I see…I get it now!"
"Oh?" Aurora smiled.
"Astro means star, right? Then if I learn the best star-themed magic out there, I'll be the winner between us!"
Aurora's mouth twitched. He didn't get it at all.
My children might be a little stupid, she thought fondly. Still, she hugged him tighter, letting him read while resting in her arms. In the distance, Astro's laughter rang out alongside Arthur's. The peaceful moment stretched on, slow and warm.
Astro suddenly paused and looked at the spear in his arms.
"What is it?" Arthur asked.
"Nothing," Astro said quickly. "Hey, Dad, teach me more spear techniques. They're way more fun than swords."
Arthur grinned and gave a thumbs-up. "You finally understand, my son. Trust me—when you grow up, girls will be lining up for a spearman that can fight with style."
"Sounds like a pain," Astro muttered, thinking of how Cedric's little sister bullied him nonstop.
Arthur laughed, rubbing Astro's fluffy head… it seems like it's still early to teach him about girls…no rush…he will learn it when he becomes an adult.
But at that moment, the Synaris family did not know just how many eyes had begun to turn toward them.
Their peaceful days—filled with laughter, training, and warmth—were already being weighed and measured.
And soon, heaven itself would pass judgment.
After all, to defy fate was to invite consequence.
Somewhere far away, beneath cold white lights, a silver-haired man slowly opened his eyes.
The scent of antiseptic filled the air. Strange magical apparatus surrounded him, humming softly as glowing runes stabilized the chamber.
"Golvax," he muttered, his voice hoarse. "Is there anything wrong with my body?"
A tall figure in a long coat adjusted the instruments calmly. "No, Master Vindex. Your body has successfully accepted the Eternity Devil's Lacrima."
Vindex exhaled, then clenched his teeth. "That's right… I cornered her. Took her heart. So, I should possess full authority over Anantea's power." His hand pressed against his temple. "But then, why can I still not see my own death? WHAT THE HELL DID I DO WRONG?"
His frustration spiked. The machines reacted faintly.
"If I cannot see my end, how am I supposed to evade it?" he growled. "That was my only chance against that cursed dragon."
Silence followed.
Vindex's gaze sharpened as a thought suddenly passed through his head. "Unless… I didn't obtain everything." His fingers curled slowly. "Could she have entrusted some of her power to someone else?"
He refused to believe a being who knew her own fate would simply accept death. The reason he was able to kill her must be because she already given some of her power to someone else. Yes, it must be.
Turning his head, his eyes settled on a large board fixed to the wall—covered in reports, sketches, and sightings tied to Anantea, The Eternity Devil, across the Earthland. Obviously, he hadn't found her by chance. He had hunted her for years just so he could get her heart and turn it into a lacrima.
Then his gaze stopped at a report one year ago.
A bounty notice from the Sin Kingdom.
"…Interesting. Why would she go there? It's not like her to take risks… " he murmured, lips curling upward. "Guess I'll start searching there."
If you wish for peace, you must be prepared for war.
A shadowed throne room lay steeped in silence. A figure cloaked in darkness sat upon the throne, fingers resting calmly on a thick tome.
"So," he said quietly, "what did Crawford decide?"
A dark-skinned man with blond hair bowed slightly. "He agreed to serve as our agent. However… his condition is the fall of the Sin Kingdom."
"Sin Kingdom?"
The figure frowned. Everyone in Ishgar knew that kingdom. The only one who openly rejected the Magic Council. Rumors still circulated of illegal experiments uncovered years ago—experiments dismantled by the new queen herself.
"If it's the Sin Kingdom," a woman with some sort of face covering on her face spoke up seductively, licking her lips. "then I will go. I always wanted to take that human woman who is considered the most beautiful in Ishgar as my slave. It will be the perfect… "
"No," the man in the throne replied at once, gently stroking the book in his arms. "The Synaris family's mind magic is considered to be the best in the earthland… If they read your mind, then it would be disastrous for our plans…."
He stood slowly, shadows shifting with him, but he still did not put the book down, as if it were the most important treasure he had.
"I will go instead."
As light touched its cover, three engraved letters became visible.
E N D
No matter how far one runs toward greatness, there is always something waiting in the shadows—
a being that time itself doesn't dare to recall, and that the world was never meant to escape.
Somewhere deep within Earthland, inside a quiet cave untouched by time, a cloaked figure lay sleeping peacefully. His appearance was unkempt, his very long, spiky blue hair spread across the stone like flowing water, as he snored loudly.
And yet, despite all of it, no matter how dark the path ahead was…
In a lush garden beside a grand mansion, sunlight filtered through leaves, casting gentle shadows across blooming flowers.
"I didn't think you'd come to see me again so soon," a frail blond woman said softly from beneath a tree. "Is the Sin Kingdom already boring you?"
Celestia frowned as she stepped forward. Layla's condition was clearly worse than before.
"I came to talk about something important, Layla," Celestia said seriously.
"So serious? That doesn't sound like you…hehe." Layla replied with a small smile. Celesita, in her opinion, was usually even more carefree than her own daughter.
"And it's not like you to give up the Zodiac keys you loved so dearly," Celestia said without hesitation.
Layla paused, then turned her gaze toward a child playing happily in the distance with her father.
Celestia followed her eyes. It was a young girl…even younger than her nephews…
"I didn't want this either, Celestia," Layla said quietly. "But it was necessary. Only by doing this can I ensure she never carries the burden of the Heartfilia name, and I can get some extra time."
"But still—" Celestia began.
Layla looked back at her. "What about you? You may be unmarried, but you have two precious nephews. Can you truly say you wouldn't do the same for them?"
Celestia's hand tightened around the keys at her waist.
"…I.. " She didn't know how to answer the question. If she had to choose between her spirits and her nephews…what decision would she make?
Layla smiled knowingly. "You know… Even I am sometimes envious of your bond with your spirits. I hope Lucy… if she becomes a celestial wizard, she gets to have the same type of bond with her spirits."
Celestia looked once more at the child—bright, cheerful, a lot like how her two nephews are. Her mind raced at how troubled her sister had been… she had a whole kingdom to manage… some other kingdoms were also making trouble everywhere… There was also the issue with the magic council…
She was supposed to be Aurora's elder sister… she was supposed to take all the burden… but all she ever did in her life was running away… but even so… her sister…she always… welcomed her back with open arms… never blaming her for anything.
Finally, Celestia raised her head. Compared to the confusion that was always there in her eyes, now it was full of her determination.
"Layla," she said firmly. "You mentioned you'd need my keys soon for something, right?... Good.... Then let's make a deal."
Layla's eyes widened before she beamed. "Hm?... You agree?... Sure… I'm listening."
In a world where humans struggle, gods judge, devils scheme, and dragons reign…
The most reliable partner you could ask for… is always going to be… a celestial wizard.
"I want to borrow the key of…"